A community radio station has announced the appointment of Gordon Henderson as its new patron.

The MP attended a light lunch at Sheppey FM, off Royal Road, along with David Millar, executive principal of Oasis Academy Isle of Sheppey and Mark Howland, principal of Canterbury College Swale Campus.

John Nurden, chairman of the Sheerness Town Team and Sheppey Matters’ board members Mike Brown, Ken Pugh and Nigel Martin and some of the station’s volunteers also attended.

Sheppey Matters project manager Julie Nicholls said: “I think it acknowledges the support that we have got in the community and the respect that we have.”

She added Sheppey FM has been going for three years and takes visits from pupils from as far as Ashford, Rochester and Maidstone to learn media skills.